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MSc by Research
Engineering

Key Information


Campus

Brayford Pool

Entry Requirements

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Full-time

1 year

Part-time

2 years

Start Dates in October and January

Programme Overview

Engineers provide the critical link between scientific discovery and the practical application of knowledge to meet the needs of business and society. Our MSc by Research degree enables students to pursue an individual programme of research. Researchers can benefit from the expertise of our academics and award-winning industry links.

Opportunities are available in a variety of areas relevant to today's engineering industry including health monitoring and diagnostics, robotics and automated systems, communications, networks, and embedded systems, power systems, sustainable energy systems, combustion and fuels, big data, material manufacturing, computational modelling in computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis, and laser diagnostics.

The School of Engineering's expertise is centred on core disciplines of industrial digitalisation and system intelligence, and sustainable energy and power systems. Throughout these programmes, students will have the chance to collaborate with industry on projects that can deliver tangible benefits to employers, the sector, and society.

Key Features

Conduct independent, original, and academically significant research

Benefit from training courses to develop key research skills

Supervision and support from an advisory panel of academic staff

Present at talks and seminars to showcase your work

Enrol in January or October each year

A student taking part in a practical session

How You Study

Research students will be allocated two academic supervisors and the College Research Degrees Board will monitor their progress throughout the programme. Students will be encouraged to participate in our research seminar series and in the University's Doctoral School and training programmes. The School will also support students in applying for funding to attend conferences, and in publishing their work in conference proceedings and refereed journals.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the vast majority of students' time will be spent in independent study and research. They will have meetings with their academic supervisors, however the regularity of these will vary depending on their own individual requirements, subject area, and the stage of their programme.

Research Areas and Topics

Opportunities are available in a variety of areas relevant to today's engineering industry including health monitoring and diagnostics, robotics and automated systems, communications, networks, and embedded systems, power systems, sustainable energy systems, combustion and fuels, big data, material manufacturing, computational modelling in computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis, and laser diagnostics.

Specific research areas include:

  • Applied Machine Learning for Engineering
  • Big Data
  • Biomedical Engineering (Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Biomedical Signal Processing, Biomedical Image Processing, Neural Engineering (Neuroengineering), Medical Imaging, Neuroergonomics).
  • Communications, Networks, and Embedded Systems
  • Computational Modelling in Finite Element Analysis
  • Digital Health and Care Provision Systems
  • Engineering Design and Systems Engineering
  • Engineering Education and Pedagogy
  • Gas Turbine Aerodynamics and Aero-mechanics
  • Health Monitoring and Diagnostics
  • Industry 4.0 (Cyber-Physical Systems and Digital/Smart Manufacturing)
  • Laser Diagnostics
  • Materials and Manufacturing (Functional Nanofibres, Nanofibre Manufacturing, Sustainable Packaging Materials)
  • Non-Traditional Machining processes (Nano Surface Finishing, Micro-machining, Laser-based Metal Processing).
  • Power Systems
  • Robotics, Automation and Control Systems (Industrial Robots, Agricultural Robotics,Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, Automated Driving Systems, Active Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Electric Vehicles, Active Chassis Control)
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Sustainable Energy Systems/Technology
  • Thermofluids (Combustion and Fuels, Fluid Dynamics and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), Fuel Cell Internal Flows, Mechanism and Performances, Biofuel and Biomass, AI to Energy Systems).

The key to success on a postgraduate research programme is to find a research topic that you are passionate about and identify a supervisory team that has expertise in this area. The first thing that all prospective students should do is directly contact a member of staff from one of these areas that you feel is best aligned with your chosen research area to discuss the application process further. You can find our more about our staff and our research activity on our School pages.

School of Engineering

How you are assessed

The MSc by Research involves writing a Master's thesis under the supervision of a member of academic staff. Final assessment is by an oral examination (viva voce) of a research thesis. Students are also expected to demonstrate how their research findings have contributed to knowledge or developed existing theory or understanding.

How to Apply

Postgraduate Research Application Support

Find out more about the application process for research degrees and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page, which also features contact details for dedicated support with your application.

A student sit with a laptop and notepad

Enrolment

To support your experience within the postgraduate research community, new students are encouraged to enrol in October or January. In addition to meeting peers across the University who are starting their research programme at the same time, there is access to a central training programme designed around the first three months of study, and targeted support aligned to each stage of the postgraduate research journey. Alternative enrolment dates may be agreed with your supervisor on an individual basis.

Entry Requirements 2025-26

Entry Requirements

First or upper second class honours degree.

Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element.

For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/.

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses. These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills

If you are an overseas student, you may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate in order to enrol on this course.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme

Programme Fees

You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below. Research students may be required to pay additional fees in addition to cover the cost of specialist resources, equipment and access to any specialist collections that may be required to support their research project. These will be informed by your research proposal and will be calculated on an individual basis.

Programme Fees

Funding Your Research

Loans and Studentships

Find out more about the options available to support your postgraduate research, from Master's and Doctoral Loans, to research studentship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.

Two students working on a laptop in a study space

Career Development

A research programme provides the opportunity to become a true expert in your chosen field, while developing a range of valuable transferable skills than can support your career progression. A research-based degree is also the most direct pathway to an academic career. Research degrees are a great chance to expand your network and meet diverse people with similar interests, knowledge, and passion.

The University’s Doctoral School provides a focal point for Lincoln’s community of researchers, where ideas and experiences can be developed and shared across disciplines. It also offers support and training to help equip you for both academic and non-academic careers.

Doctoral School

Academic Contact

For more information about this course, please contact:

Dr Faiz Iqbal
FIqbal@lincoln.ac.uk

Research at Lincoln

Through our research, we are striving to change society for the better. Working with regional, national, and international partners, our academics are engaged in groundbreaking studies that are challenging the status quo. We also understand the importance of providing the best possible environment for pursuing research that can support our communities and make a tangible difference to the world around us.

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The University intends to provide its courses as outlined in these pages, although the University may make changes in accordance with the Student Admissions Terms and Conditions.